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Original poster

Few days in York with 13 year old DS

28 replies

Lifebegins21 · 01/12/2021 21:53

I've decided to escape Scotland with my 13 year old son for the Easter holidays and booked a guest house in York for 3 nights. Might be able to extend by another night if I can save enough money.

Can anyone recommend places to visit, things to see and do.

My ds loves historical places of interest, which was why I chose York. It looks like there will be plenty to see in the city centre. Is there anything worth a road trip to see just outside York or further North? It doesn't have to be historical stuff.

Feels exciting to be crossing the border!

OP posts:
Terminallysleepdeprived · 01/12/2021 22:00

Look into the york pass as it works out cheaper for attractions.

The minster is an absolute must, there is the castle and the art gallery. York dungeons and Jorvik are good but book ahead.

Clifford's tower is closed for refurb but not sure when it is due to reopen. The Walls are stunning to walk around, lots of info boards with facts etc on them.

The shambles are stunning and the market often has a lot of street food vendors.

The Old Bank on Lendall Street does an amazing breakfast, or for a treat book for Betty's.

The City Screen is a lovely independent cinema that is worth a visit.

Wouldof · 01/12/2021 22:20

York is lovely. have you looked at website: www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/
Should help.

KnightonShiningArmour · 01/12/2021 22:28

York is great. Highly recommend the York Dungeon and a ghost walk at night! The street food stalls at the market wonderful. You’ll have an amazing trip no matter the weather. Enjoy!

GellerYeller · 01/12/2021 22:42

Definitely do a ghost walk! If he likes museums then Jorvik, the Castle museum and national rail museum are all good and central. There's an air museum on the outskirts. And a nuclear bunker (!) but I think it's closed due to covid. Definitely the Minster is a must and there's Dick Turpins grave in a central church graveyard. Although there's some dispute if he's in that exact spot.
If he likes Harry Potter there's some shops in The Shambles, the street which claims to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley(for the films, JK Rowling says it wasn't for the book!).

GellerYeller · 01/12/2021 22:45

There's also Eden Camp, a World War two museum near Malton, if you're driving out. And Castle Howard which is stunning. Have a fantastic time.

Northernlurker · 01/12/2021 22:47

Are you driving down from Scotland? You can turn off the A1 and visit Fountains abbey near ripon. It's beautiful. Good national trust cafe too Grin

In the city centre there's a recreated medieval house, Barley Hall.

And loads of social history at the railway museum and castle museum.

MrsSkylerWhite · 01/12/2021 22:50

National Rail Museum is excellent.

33goingon64 · 01/12/2021 22:51

What others have said but, in addition, the National Railway Museum. Totally agree with Eden Camp too - our 10 and 6 year olds loved it and adults and older kids will find lots to get out of it too.

PenguinLove1 · 01/12/2021 22:54

Was in York in October with a 14 year old DS. We did Jorvik, the Minster, the Castle Museum, an evening boat ride on the river, the rail museum, plus a wander round the shambles and market. Was absolutely great. We also visited the designer outlets and spent a fortune if he is into brands! Castle Howard was shut for filing Brideshead Revisited when we were there but if its open go, i was there when younger and its stunning.
We did the wizard crazy golf across from Jorvik, was fun, and then before we left we did the crazy golf at the cinema complex, it was outstanding and well worth doing!

Jayaywhynot · 01/12/2021 23:00

City walls are free, fab to walk all the way round, minster is free I think or make a donation, Jorvick Centre will cost you about £20 for the two of you, buy a guide book about the snickleways of york and go explore all the alley ways. Hire a self drive boat and go down the river or get on one of the tour boats. Take a walk down the river, go from skeldergate Bridge and head away from town, you'll find Rountrees Park (follow the signs) stand on the bank of the ouse and wave at the tour boats and have a bet on how many people will wave back 😊 go to the museum Gardens it's free and contains ruins and the hospitium, alongside the river is a canal boat that sells ice-cream. Railway museum is free.
Loads to do, enjoy, I live in York

AnneElliott · 01/12/2021 23:02

Agree that Eden Camp, Jorvik centre and the Minster are all musts. Rail museum and the ghost walk also worth it.

Clareyck · 01/12/2021 23:02

Second Jorvik and nrm and we also had a good time recently at Chocolate Story..was much better than anticipated and I ate lots of samples

thumpingrug · 01/12/2021 23:15

Not sure if this has been mentioned but treat yourself to afternoon tea at Betty's ( book in advance).

Benjaminsniddlegrass · 02/12/2021 08:22

We went in the summer with combination of teens and little one. Yes to Jorvik, don't know if it will still be on but the immersive van Gogh experience at St Mary's is great. Obviously the walls and shambles. We went to Robin hoods bay for a wander and then over to Goathland for Hogwarts train station. Every day we went for lunch at the food stalls market behind the shambles, so much choice, all of it delicious and the teens felt it was pretty cool.

Northernlurker · 02/12/2021 13:16

The Minster is NOT free unless you are going to a service. It hadn't been free for years.

Original poster
Lifebegins21 · 02/12/2021 13:23

Oh wow, thank you so much for all your great suggestions! Think we might need to try and book another night to fit it all in!

Yes, we are driving down from the Highlands so can stop off at any places on way down or back.

My son loves Harry Potter so even better Smile.

We have exhausted our Historic Scotland passes so it will be nice to explore somewhere new. I will definitely look into the York pass if it helps to save money.

Is there any other places that might be worth an overnight stay out of York?

OP posts:
Almostmenopausal · 02/12/2021 13:26

York is absolutely MENTALLL right now! Went at the beginning of the Christmas market to visit the York Chocolate Story (which was amazing by the way!!!! Loved it once we finally made it!) and omg.... the crowds! The entire city is RAMMED at the moment. Couldn't get near any of the stalls and ended up running inside a shop to escape the crowds. It's like ASDA on Christmas Eve!

Almostmenopausal · 02/12/2021 13:30

I live in Harrogate about 20 miles west of York. You'd honestly be best off staying here or in knaresborough (another beautiful town about 20 mins away). York is extortionate prices for hotels. Knaresborough has a castle ruins, a river with boats to hire 🛶 , lots of shops and historical bits & bobs.

Another attraction suggestion is Yorkshire Air Museum! It's an old RAF WW2 airfield that's been fully restored and has a ton of historic aircraft and WW2 exhibits. It's really big so there's lots to do. There's also a restaurant there and great gift shop. It's outside York so away from the crowds.

Almostmenopausal · 02/12/2021 13:36

One other thing, I would say it's a mistake to drive to York unless you have pre-booked your parking as trying to find parking each day there is your worst nightmare.
If you can't pre book, then make plans to either stay in one of the hotels which offers parking or use one of the park & rides each day that you're in the city centre. The best one is at Clifton Moor.

Northernlurker · 02/12/2021 17:41

There isn't park and ride at Clifton moor!
There's park and ride at Rawcliffe, the junction before Clifton Moor or at Vangarde at Monks Cross or Grimston bar. Coming in from Scotland the Rawcliffe one is probably the most obvious but I expect the op's guest house will offer something

thumpingrug · 02/12/2021 23:27

Whitby on the North York Coast is a great place to visit.

SufferingJet · 02/12/2021 23:31

If you're driving down pop into Beamish living museum on your way. It's fantastic and your ticket we'll be valid for a year so you could go on your way back up too! Really worth it.

Almostmenopausal · 03/12/2021 15:07

@Northernlurker

There isn't park and ride at Clifton moor! There's park and ride at Rawcliffe, the junction before Clifton Moor or at Vangarde at Monks Cross or Grimston bar. Coming in from Scotland the Rawcliffe one is probably the most obvious but I expect the op's guest house will offer something
There is! I used it last week!
Almostmenopausal · 03/12/2021 15:08

@Northernlurker

There isn't park and ride at Clifton moor! There's park and ride at Rawcliffe, the junction before Clifton Moor or at Vangarde at Monks Cross or Grimston bar. Coming in from Scotland the Rawcliffe one is probably the most obvious but I expect the op's guest house will offer something
Also, Rawcliffe one is closed whilst the covid test centre is open
Pootles34 · 03/12/2021 15:41

Rawcliffe is still open, it's Poppleton that's closed. Also, no, there isn't a Clifton Moor one - I would imagine you used Rawcliffe? I'm sure the guest house that OP has booked will be able to sort her out anyway.

You've got a lovely run down via Northumberland - lots of castles to explore, if you were looking for an extra night I think I'd look at booking somewhere around there, or even Durham perhaps?